Britton: 'Next Season Will Be Tougher'

Midfielder Leon Britton warns Swansea City that next season will be tougher.

The Swans have enjoyed their first season in the Championship for 24 years, we were an unknown quantity and surprised many people who thought we'd make an instant return to League One.

Instead, we went close to finishing in a play-off place and played some superb passing football in the process.

Next season looks destined to be tougher though. The teams will know what to expect from us, how we play and what our main threats are.

Another factor is whether or not we can keep hold of our star players. Losing the likes of Jason Scotland, Jordi Gomez, Angel Rangel and Ferrie Bodde would severely weaken the squad unless Martinez could pull off some more quality signings.

Britton said to the Evening Post:

'If we look back over the season it has been a good year in which we have progressed again

'At the start of the season we were among the favourites to go down, but in the changing room we have always believed in ourselves.

'It took us 10 games in which to realize the standard of the Championship, but after that we held our own and did very well.

'The praise along the way has been brilliant from opposing fans, players and managers.

'But we need to make sure we don't settle for this season - it's going to even tougher next season.

'We will give ourselves a pat on the back, but we will come back and work even harder because we will struggle if we don't.

'The main thing is that we don't rest on our laurels.''

The club's diverse scouting system, Kevin Reeves' hard work and knowledge together with Martinez's managerial skills has enabled us to sign a number of top class players for low transfer fees. Scotland was bought for just £25,000 and similar 5-figure fees were paid for Angel Rangel and Ferrie Bodde.

Britton praised the hard work that's been done:

'We have got a good squad, manager and coaching staff and we knew we could achieve something.

'The gaffer has brought in very good players. He has an excellent scouting network and Kevin Reeves does a lot of work for the club.

'The players within the squad have really improved under the gaffer, Graeme Jones and Colin Pascoe.

'They have not only brought in good players, but made the boys that were already here a lot better.''